World champion Zhanna Bloch, the fastest woman on earth last year, is to run at Gateshead this summer.

World champion Zhanna Bloch, the fastest woman on earth last year, is to run at Gateshead this summer.

The Ukrainian has made the Norwich Union Super League meeting on July 13 one of her key races as she prepares to defend her 100 metres title at the World Championships in Paris later this year.

With Olympic champion Marion Jones taking a year out to have a baby, Bloch is far and away the biggest ticket in women's sprinting and her presence at the International Stadium is another coup for what is shaping up to be one of the track meetings of the year.

"Much of the attention on athletics in England focuses on the Grand Prix at Crystal Palace but with the field being put together in Gateshead this year I think we are set for an equally strong event," said Bloch.

"From my point of view the meeting is a key part of my preparations for August's World Championships - I'm the reigning champion and everything this year is focused on keeping it that way.

"When you are No.1 the challenge always has to be to remain there."

Zhanna, who used to run under the name Pintusevich-Bloch, has appeared at Gateshead twice before - in 1999 and 2001 - but is seeking her first victory on Tyneside.

She faces a tough challenge in attempting to achieve it this summer with triple Commonwealth gold medal winner Debbie Ferguson and Bahamas team-mate Savatheda Fynes also on the starting list.

Bloch is the latest big name to commit to the Gateshead meeting which will also feature current Olympic champions Cathy Freeman and Jonathan Edwards.

* TICKETS for the July meeting are available by phoning 0870-4444440 or online at www.ukathletics.net.